These days there are a gazillion sites offering casting and audition info and tantalizing promises to those chasing stardom. But how do you know if a site is legit and whether a casting will result in a booking…or maybe a terrifying encounter with a weirdo in a deserted hotel room?

Your best bet is to go with the tried-and-true websites that have been around for years—or decades—and have a solid reputation. Backstage.com is the gold standard, offering verified casting calls, as well as a talent database, forums, news, and great articles. You might be interested in 7 Signs of a Casting Scam, for one. I have a membership to Backstage—it’s pretty much a must if you want to research upcoming auditions and be on top of the biz (non-members can view basic info but not the details of auditions). This definitely applies if you are working as a freelancer, but even if you have a manager/agent, you may catch a casting that slipped through the cracks in their busy schedules. Several of my son’s recent Billy Elliot runs are the result of me setting up a Billy Elliot alert on Backstage. The people over at Backstage lay out the difference between their site and others this way: “Backstage.com is the only casting website that updates and verifies each and every casting notice before it’s posted, offering a level of confidence and security that no other website can match.” Backstage caters to actors, models, singers, dancers, and comedians.

Casting Networks is another credible site that established talent and agencies depend upon. It is easy to set up an account and post your photo, resume, stats, special skills, etc. If you are represented, an account is free; if you do not have an agency representing you, the cost is $25 annually.

Actors Access also provides essential services to both talent and casting directors. Setting up an account is free.

Combing through the castings and creating and updating your profile on these three sites will keep you plenty busy, so I’ll stop there for now.

Have a casting site or resource you love? Let us know!

Enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search and be seen by top agents. It’s free and easy!

Now Casting KIDS & Teens: Is your child an actor, singer, dancer or model? Join Backstage, the most trusted name in casting, to learn how to break into films, TV shows, commercials, and Broadway.